VISION RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT GRANT

描述（由申请人提供）：愿景研究基础设施发展补助金的目标是通过提供额外的共享支持设施，加强西北大学范伯格医学院一组NEI资助的既定研究人员的研究工作。研究人员对视觉研究的细胞和分子方面有着密切的兴趣，预计共享的核心设施将进一步刺激他们的科学互动和合作。该补助金不仅将提高参与研究人员的研究生产力，而且还将加强整个西北大学的视觉研究。该提案的一个独特之处在于，它将汇集研究视网膜和角膜细胞生物学的研究人员。这些模块的结构是为了适应眼科研究中的新技术，并由经验丰富的研究人员指导，他们与技术人员一起提供西北大学无法提供的服务或无法获得个人研究赠款。这些模块及其具体目标是：显微切割和细胞采集模块将提供用于基因图谱分析的单个细胞或细胞群采集的设备、技术服务、培训和专业知识。它还将为调查人员提供光学成像和数字图像分析能力。组织和细胞培养模块将提供基本设施、技术服务和专业知识，以获得原代培养物，并制备用于细胞生物学研究的已建立细胞系。这些模块的管理将由西北大学经验丰富的研究人员组成的咨询小组进行监测。这些模块将为西北大学NEI资助的研究人员提供最先进的设施，并将促进多学科研究计划，这些计划对于开发致盲眼病的治疗方法至关重要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of the Vision Research Infrastructure Development Grant is to enhance the research efforts of a group of NEI-funded, established investigators at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine by providing additional, shared support facilities. The investigators have close interests in cell and molecular aspects of vision research, and it is expected that the shared core facilities will further stimulate their scientific interactions and collaborations. The Grant will not only enhance the research productivity of the participating investigators, but will also strengthen vision research throughout Northwestern University. A unique aspect of the proposal is that it will bring together investigators working on the cellular biology of the retina and the cornea. The Modules are structured to accommodate new technologies in ophthalmic research, and are directed by experienced investigators who, together with technical staff, provide services that are not available at Northwestern or cannot be supported by individual research grants. The Modules and their specific aims are: The Microdissection and Cell Acquisition Module will provide the equipment, technical service, training and expertise for the acquisition of individual cells or groups of cells for use in gene profiling. It will also provide investigators with optical imaging, digital image analysis capabilities. The Tissue and Cell Culture Module will provide essential facilities, technical service and expertise to obtain primary cultures, and to prepare established cell lines for cell biological studies. The administration of the Modules will be monitored by an advisory group consisting of experienced investigators at Northwestern. The Modules will provide state-of-the-art facilities to NEI-funded investigators at Northwestern and will foster multidisciplinary research programs that are crucial for developing therapies blinding eye diseases.